Accommodation Program
The Centre offers a range of services to those with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who are homeless or about to become homeless.
• Crisis and Short Term Supported Accommodation Program for Migrants and Refugees.
This program provides support and assistance to those living in the Southern suburbs of the Perth metropolitan area who are homeless or who are about to become homeless. It is recognised that homelessness is rarely about not having a roof over one’s head. As part of this program, Families can be offered supported short term accommodation in one of 6 off site detached fully furnished houses. During this time families are intensively case managed to address issues such as lack of English, mental health issues including pre arrival torture and trauma issues, financial management, family relationship issues, parenting problems and legal and consumer issues that may have led to them becoming homeless. Clients are assisted to increase their tenancy knowledge, and in addition are linked to services and supports such as mental health services, education including English classes, Centrelink, Homeswest, financial and relationship counselling, parenting courses, and childcare.
In addition to those housed in the programme's crisis accommodation, single adults, young people and other homeless families are assisted through information, advice, referral, advocacy and brokerage to obtain or maintain private and public tenancies.
Referrals to the program can be made by contacting the Accommodation Manager at the Fremantle Multicultural Centre.
The program is funded by the Department of Child Protection.
• Homelessness Housing Support Worker Program
This program assists those who are housed throughout the South West Metro area in supported accommodation programs such as women's refuges, and men's hostels to exit into long term stable accommodation. The worker provides support and assistance to obtain both private and public housing. The aim of the program is to decrease the time that clients have to spend in supported accommodation, and so free up refuges and hostels to be able to respond more quickly to a greater number of those experiencing a housing crisis. Referrals can be accepted from DCP funded supported accommodation programmes.
• A Place to Call Home
The Fremantle Multicultural Centre is a DCP preferred service provider for the A Place to Call Home Initiative . This programme provides support to single clients who are referred by the Department of Housing and Works. The aim of the programme is to provide support to those on Homeswest's priority waiting list to maintain tenancies, to maximise the chances of the client being able to live independently of support after a 12 month period of support.
• CaLD Child Support Programme
It is recognised that children in families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness may have support needs independent of their parents. The CaLD Child Support Programme aims to provide support through an intensive case managed process to provide counselling, and protective behaviours training, as well as assistance to access education and recreational needs. Referrals of culturally and linguistically diverse children who are homeless in family situations are accepted from supported accommodation programmes and DCP.
This program is funded by the Department for Community Development under SAAP. It has recently been re-funded and the Centre has been identified as a preferred provider and has therefore secured funding for the next three years.
